Memory loss with prozac

Mental health
1

Hi, in case it's relevant I'm a 20 year old male. For the past 6 or so months I have been suffering from health anxiety. I've been particularly preoccupied with neurological disorders such as brain tumors, dementia ect. However using a self help book I began to feel better and not be so worried that I had serious illnesses. I did however still have depression that was caused by the anxiety even though I wasn't really worried about anything health related. As a result my doctor has put me on 20mg prozac. It is currently my third day and although I'm not experiencing many side effects I've found that my memory has been a lot worse for these last few days. This is causing me to worry about my memory and think that I might possibly have a memory condition or dementia. My doctor has said many times before that it's just anxiety and depression causing memory loss and all my family say I'm fine but I can't help worrying now. I'm just wondering is it normal to experience some memory loss with Prozac and how long will this take to wear off. How long will it take for Prozac to start to make me feel better and will any side effects get worse or should I just stay similar now after three days?

Any help would be appreciated

2

Hello I wanted to help a little to put your mind at ease.

Firstly, anxiety (at its severest,) will make your memory bad. I find my memory is like a bag with lots of holes in. This in itself generates anxiety because like you I fear a brain tumour.

I wanted to comment because I read dementia is one of your fears. I know someone with this illness and even in its most early stages it is not just memory loss. I won't go into the symptoms in case you are like me (I begin to experience symptoms I read,) but I just wanted you to know that it is far, far more complex than forgetting things.

Prozac will make effect your memory. I think it comes under the umbrella of an SSRI and I know myself that these did have an effect on my memory in a very odd way.

I hope this helps X

3

It most likely isn't the meds doing that, but your intense fears of memory and brain issues causing your anxiety to hang onto what it can, knowing that you're attempting to great the anxiety.. You will feel worse before you feel better, so be prepared for down days for the next week or two.

Typically all of my side effects or "side effects" being caused by my own mind goes away once the meds build up, probably around week 2-4 for me.. It can take up to I believe 6 weeks though so don't get discouraged..

Why don't you do some of those brain games? They're known to prevent alzheimers, dementia so you would not only be thinking you're helping yourself, but also keeping your mind busy.

4

Hi - if it's any comfort to you, I'm a Dementia Specialist Nurse and I have never heard or seen anyone at the age of twenty with dementia.

Yoing-onset dementia tends to occur in the late forties and early fifties.

The vasy majority of patients are over 80. My current patient is 94.

When Prozac is started, there can be a little memory loss, which, along with the other side-effects, usually disappear at about five weeks, or even slightly less.

You need to take Prozac for a good eight weeks before you rreally notice the benefits. You say you've been taking them for three days - that really isn't long enough for them to work. Please carry on taking them as prescribed by your doctor and you will feel benefit at about eight weeks.

You sound as though you have severe health anxiety, which is realy horrible to be going through, especially at such a young age.

Can you think of any trigger that started this?

Many, many people suffer from health Anxiety, and Google symptoms until their computers fall to bits.

Remember Dr. Google doesn't know you, and you're just picking symptoms randomly and making them into diseases you haven't got.

I expect you've had a full range of tests done, all of which were normal.

Can you tell me when this worry started, and how many tests you've had? It is not unusual to find people with Anxiety going from doctor to doctor, having tests, and then wondering to themselve, "ah, yes, but suppose they missed something........" So off you go to another doctor for more tests which you don't believe.

Many people on this Forum have exactly the same trouble and will come and help you. CBT is the best treatment on the whole.

I'm sorry you're suffering like this. I hope the Prozac helps you and I hope you get some CBT.

Love Tess xx

5

Hi,I think Drs say anxiety and depression cause people to have memory loss,I also been having some issues with memory loss with my anxiety,but I dnt knw if we get our memory back when anxiety and depression eases,I hope so cuz I have a hard time remembering lots of things unless someone else reminds me of a situation,I think with myself I worry so much about my anxiety and tense feelings I have,its hard for me to think or concentrate on anything else!

6

Hi, thanks for the reply, It does make me feel better that you've never seen anyone my age with dementia. I don't know why I worry about it, I know it's illogical. In terms of tests and doctor shopping I haven't really had that many tests or doctors because I know that my fears are illogical and don't want to seem like an idiot. I've had routine bloods which came back normal and I've been to 2 doctors, my family doctor and my university doctor. The thing is I wasn't that worried about having an illness before I started meds. I'd just about accepted that I had anxiety and that was causing my symptoms. It was depression my doctor prescribed the Prozac for but the memory loss side effect has caused me to worry about dementia. I've been referred to a therapist to do CBT so should start that soon as well. Xx

7

I am having a similar situation, with the memory loss and prozac and I am absolutely convinced that i have dementia. I am 28 and have read about extremely early cases of dementia whether it be genetic or another type. I do have bad health anxiety also and depression. I was on prozac for 5 months after switching from Paxil and recently decided to get off the prozac and was off for about a month and the memory loss increased so much that it scared me back into taking it again, which I am on day 5 of that and doing absolutely horrible I feel disoriented and the memory is worse than ever. I have been to a doctor and had a brain MRI that was normal. The doctor said he would refer me to a brain center but that his in office exam was fine. I honestly don't know what to do.